PenguinSmart, Belmont, CA (2025)

10/20/2025

"Could online parent coaching really be more effective than having therapists coming to the home?" I was skeptical.
My twin boys are four years old, born 24 weeks premature with significant developmental delays. They can barely sit and are hooked up to medical devices 24/7. Most peds rehab clinics and centers reject us, so we've relied on in-home therapy sessions for all our rehabilitation needs.
On the speech-language front - since my boys don't have language yet and their physical abilities are very limited, honestly, there hasn't been much change in the past four years.

Five months ago, we started with PenguinSmart - I was blown away.

Unlike traditional speech therapy where the therapist works directly with the child, PenguinSmart's teacher sees my boys through my eyes—then teaches me how to truly observe them. Those fleeting movements and sounds I'd never noticed? The therapist helps me decode what they're trying to communicate.

I got specific guidance, like "When you want his attention, hold his arm firmly with your whole palm for a moment—give him deeper sensory input."
I tried it. Immediately—my child responded differently. Every adjustment brings new feedback!
My husband says my new motto is: "I gave birth to two geniuses!"

Now I love observing and interacting with them. Every class excites me because PenguinSmart starts from our real life, pointing out blind spots and opportunities I'd never noticed by myself. I leave energized, eager to try what we learned.

This exceeded every expectation.

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Samantha, mother of 4-yr-old twin boys with global developmental delays
Participant of the social impact initiative "Wings of Hope for the Slow Angels" mypenguinsmart.com/wingsofhope-tw

10/07/2025

You want to know what breaks me?
It's coming home after a day that's just wrung me dry, looking forward to finally have some time and space to myself. But I step into the house and see chaos - there are books. Everywhere. Scattered across the entire floor like a tornado had hit.
That's my son. Orange. He's seven. He has autism and doesn't speak. He loves books—but not the way you'd think. He would grab a book, flips a few pages, tosses it. Grabs another one. Tosses it. Another one. Until every single book is off the shelf and on the floor. He does it anywhere there is a bookshelf - at the library, at the bookstore. Anywhere.
And I'd lose it. I'd just start yelling at him, him would start melting down, and we'd both be crying. Every single day. I kept thinking: 'Why can't he just learn? It's so simple.'
Did we do interventions or therapy? Of course. I took him everywhere—countless appointments everywhere. But it always felt disconnected. Each session existed in isolation. We leave the classroom, and nothing would be different. Let's be real - the real battlefield is at home, and we were both losing.
Then we met PenguinSmart.
The therapist gave me strategies for home. She said: "You talk too much. Show him with gestures. Three words maximum. Then wait."
I thought she was crazy. How would he understand without explanation?
But I tried it. I waited. And he responded.
Turns out I was the one who didn't understand.
Small details became game-changers. When I changed, my son changed too.
Now when books are on the floor, I tap his shoulder and point. No words. He picks them up. Sometimes it takes longer, but it gets done.
Before, my detailed sorting instructions overwhelmed him—he'd throw everything in the trash. Now? He actually sorts them himself. Each book back to its right spot. Right category. Right place.
I finally have my evenings back, and he gets his peace back. Our home is no longer a battlefield but a place we can both breathe.
---
Lisa, mom of a 7-yr-old boy w/ Autism. A family sponsored via the "Wings of Hope" Initiative. https://mypenguinsmart.com/wingsofhope-tw

09/26/2025

(2/2) The therapist also taught me how to read my son's signals—all those little movements and subtle sounds I had completely overlooked before actually had meaning. He was trying to tell me things all along. It turns out he wanted to make choices too, and he wanted to share what he liked with me. Through the communication board, I discovered he had his own preferences, things he wanted, and things he wanted to say. I'll never forget that moment when I first understood his choice—the light and joy that appeared in his eyes.

Five months later, just as he was starting elementary school, another miracle happened. This child who I thought would always need diapers can now be guided to use the toilet independently after just a few months of communication practice! No diapers needed at all! Now, almost 7 years old, he can start first grade with dignity and maturity. I'm so grateful.

For the first time as a mother, I feel like I can not only care for my child but actually teach him. I've also realized that my son has been trying to express himself all along.

My dear boy, I hear you now!❤️
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Sarah, mother of a 6.5-year-old boy with a rare disease (spinocerebellar ataxia,SCA)
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A family sponsored via "Wings of Hope for the Slow Angels" Initiative 202504 Batch. Learn about the initiative https://mypenguinsmart.com/wingsofhope-tw

09/26/2025

"For six and a half years, I thought I was just a caregiver. I dressed my son, prepared his meals, changed his diapers...He has a rare neurological disorder (spinocerebellar ataxia, SCA) and has never spoken a word. I thought this was just going to be our life.

The most challenging issue was toileting. He absolutely refused to relieve himself anywhere except at home, holding it in all day at preschool until he could finally go when we got back. Sometimes he couldn't hold it on the way home and his diaper would just overflow, soaking through all his clothes. I was so worried about his health, but I felt so helpless not knowing how to help him.

Then in April of this year, thanks to generous sponsors, I started my program at PenguinSmart. The speech therapist taught me how to make communication boards and how to have "conversations" with my son. At first, I was skeptical—could a child who had never expressed himself really communicate? But I decided to give it a try.

To my amazement, our lives began to change. I started using the communication boards in our daily routine under the therapist's guidance. Instead of just preparing everything for him like I used to, I learned to let him express his needs and make choices through the communication board first. After some trial and error and lots of practice, we discovered something incredible—he started wanting to communicate on his own! This was behavior I had never seen in six and a half years. I could hardly believe it. (1/2)
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mypenguinsmart.com/wingsofhope-tw

09/22/2025

🎉 HUGE NEWS! PenguinSmart is now on FL Step-Up marketplace! 🎉
Our family-centered speech support programs are now FULLY COVERED by Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities - no out-of-pocket costs for qualifying families!
🐧 Schedule a free consultation with our program specialist see which would be most suitable for you!
✨ What this means: personalized speech therapy, family-centered approach, flexible scheduling, and evidence-based interventions tailored to your child's unique needs. We're here to guide you through the FES-UA process!
💙 Every child deserves the gift of communication - let's make it happen together!

👉 SCHEDULE HERE https://course.mypenguinsmart.com/svl 🫶

09/12/2025

"FAQs | EP7-"Are PenguinSmart's services available in my language?”
Do you know which languages PenguinSmart offers? Is my language available?

If you have any questions, please message us!

For more information please visit our website: https://www.mypenguinsmart.com/

09/10/2025

"FAQs | EP5-"What kind of device is required to use PenguinSmart services?"
Do you know? Now you only need a device that can connect to the Internet to use PenguinSmart's services.
It can be used easily no matter where people are.

If you have any questions, please message us!

For more information please visit our website: https://www.mypenguinsmart.com/

09/05/2025

"FAQs | EP4-"What diagnosis & conditions can PenguinSmart work with?”
Did you know there are 1/6 of children have developmental issues? PenguinSmart offers an online therapy support service that enables families to directly get involved in their loved one’s rehab.
Let’s see how we do during the process.

If you have any questions, please message us!

For more information please visit our website: https://www.mypenguinsmart.com/

09/03/2025

"How old does my child have to be to use PenguinSmart?”Early intervention means before 6 years old is the most effective time for an intervention! But is too late after six years old? The answer is NO! Our program is adaptable and we can help you out! Message us to see if you can still benefit from our globally renown intelligent parent-coaching solutions! For more information, please visit our website: https://www.mypenguinsmart.com/faq

08/11/2025

Today, on International Youth Day, PenguinSmart celebrates the creativity, resilience, and joy of neurodiverse youth! 🧩💡
Every youth deserves to be seen for their strengths, not just their challenges. With the right tools and support, they can express themselves, connect, and thrive in their unique way.

PenguinSmart family, let’s prepare our loved ones to shine for the world.🌟Find our more of our stories at mypenguinsmart.com/testimonials

08/06/2025

Who knew playtime could change everything? 🎈

Alice discovered the power of playful connection — and her son began communicating in ways she never imagined. 💬✨
At PenguinSmart, we believe that with the right support, parents can unlock the door for their child to discover the joy of connection.
💛 Want to hear more stories like Alice’s?
👉 Read real parent experiences here: mypenguinsmart.com/testimonials

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